Mavs, Brandon Jennings Have Mutual Interest

The Mavericks were looking at Brandon Jennings prior to the trade deadline, and it appears they aren't giving up on pursuing the Bucks point guard. They'd "love" to nab him in restricted free agency this summer, and that's an outcome Jennings would like to happen as well, as Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News writes. The Bucks, though, will have the right to match any offer he gets, and earlier this season they informed him they intend to do just that.

Jennings and the Bucks failed to agree on an extension to his rookie-scale contract before the October deadline. Since then, the point guard switched agents, replacing Bill Duffy with Jeff Schwartz, an advocate for the endorsement opportunities that major markets can provide. Jennings has made no secret of his desire to explore what big cities could do for his career, though he recently expressed his affection for Milwaukee as he denied that he had encountered "irreconcilable differences" with the team. 

The Bucks appear to hold Jennings' talents in high regard, as they reportedly consider him one of their "untouchable" players, along with Larry Sanders and rookie John Henson. Backcourt mate Monta Ellis and deadline acquisition J.J. Redick could both leave as unrestricted free agents in the summer, so Jennings is the only one of Milwaukee's top three guards under team control beyond this season.

The Mavs will have plenty of cap space, and could make it difficult for the Bucks to bring Jennings back if they sign him to an offer sheet at or near the maximum salary, which is 25% of the salary cap for a player with six or fewer years of experience, like Jennings. I'm not sure either team believes Jennings is a max player, however, and Dallas appears eager to go after established superstars like Dwight Howard and Chris Paul. They figure to be in the mix for Josh Smith as well. Yet if Mark Cuban and company miss out on those targets, they might be willing to overspend to land Jennings.